Indicator-lock



1;N0 Model.)

. J. Z. RORABAGK.

INDICATOR LOCK.

Patented Mar. 26, 1895.

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. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN Z. RORABACK, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

INDICATOR-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 536,37, dated March 26, 1895.

Application filed April 11, 1894- Serial No. 507,1 46. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN Z. RORABACK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Indicator-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the class of indicator locks in which a num ber of character-bearing bodies are movably supported in a case to display through an opening therein a series of the charaetersvariable by moving the bodies'for any of several purposes, for example to leave evidence, by a change from a recorded series of the characters, of the fact of the lock having been tampered with, thereby fulfilling the requirement in a lock for freight-car doors; or, as another example, to produce in the characters brought into view at the opening a certain relation with regard to which the mechanism is arranged to permit unlocking of the device.

The object of my invention is to provide, in a lock of the character referred to, novel permutation-mechanism, involving a comparatively simple construction which shall render it very durable and inexpensive to manufacture.

To this end my invention consists, in its broadest sense, in an indicator lock having supportedsin its case, in series, two or more character-bearing movable endless flexible bands differentiating in length and connected to be movable simultaneously, whereby complete rotation of one is accompanied by less than complete rotation of the other or others and prevents repeated presentation, atthe display-opening in the case, of any serial arrangement of characters.

My invention further consists in the general construction of my improved indicator lock; and it also consists in details of construction and combinations of parts.

Referring to the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 isa perspective view of my improved indicator lock. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the same in rear elevation with one-half of the case removed to display the internal mechanism. Fig. 3 is a view showing that part of the case represented in Fig. 2 partly in section with the endless character-bearing bands removed to display the rotatable drum at one end and the band-bearings on different planes at the opposite end. Fig. 4 is a section taken at the line4 on Fig. 3 and viewed in'the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is an end view of the actuating drum; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view'of a portion of one of the endless character-bearing bands showing its flexibly-jointed construction.

A is the case, which is formed preferably of metal by casting and in any desired shape, though illustrated as generally rectangular and as comprising two halves fastened together. At an upper corner of the case is pivoted one end of a bow or hasp B termimating atits opposite end inatongueradapted to enter the case through a suitably located opening q near its opposite corner and be therein engaged by a spring-bolt p.

The parts thus far described need involve no features of novelty and may be varied or supplanted by parts of different construction for the same general purpose without departure from my invention.

In the upper end of the case are bearings o, o, 0 and 0 formed preferably by providing them in diiferent step-like planes on a casting 0, or block, stationary in the case; or if desired, the bearings may be supplanted by suitable guide-wheels or rollers journaled to extend on the differential planes represented, a modification too obvious to require illustration.

In the base of the case is journaled the rotatable bearing D, shown as a drum having ratchet-teeth p in one end to be engaged by a dog- 19 formed on the lower end of the spring-bolt p; and the drum is provided with longitudinal grooves m, at equal intervals about its circumference, extending from one end of the drum a desired distance toward the opposite end. The drum is further shown to be provided with a central longitudinal opening Zfrom which extend radial slots in the planes between adjacent groovesm to receive a flat key, (not shown) adapted to be inserted lengthwise into the two aligning slots exposed at a -shaped opening it in the ad- ;jacent side of the case A to permit turning of the drum by the key till the latter is impeded by a side of the opening. 1

E, E, E and E are four endless flexible bands, shown as formed of flat links hinged together in endless series, the first-named being the shortest and fitting about the hearing 0 and drum; the next about the bearing 0' and drum; the next about the bearing 0 and drum; and the last about the bearing 0 and drum. Each link has provided in any suitable manner upon it a desired character, whereby a transverse series of the characters on the endless bands is always displayed through an opening in the front of the case; and the projections z'at the under sides of the links at their hinged junctions are arranged to coincide with the grooves min the drum, which thus operates as a sprocket-gear.

The relative arrangement of parts is such as to cause the extent of each turning of the drum admissible with one insertion of the key to move all the endless bands a distance to present a different series of the characters at the opening it, the drum being, of course, rotatable in one direction only, owing to stoppage in the opposite direction by the dog, which, however is forced outward by the passage over it of each ratchet-tooth sufliciently far to throw the spring-bolt p inward and disengage it from the hasp B, which, according to the arrangement shown, may thus be opened in each operation of the drum.

The difference in length between the successive endless bands should equal the length of a link, or character, whereby a row of characters will always be displayed at the opening k; and the selection and arrangement of the characters are such that no two series thereof across the several bands are alike. As will be observed, then, when the shortest band E has been turned once entirely about, the next, E, will thereby have been turned one link less than entirely, the band E two links, and the band E three links less; so that no series of the characters presented at the opening 70 can be repeated. I-lence, any number of turns of the drum is sure to present to view a series of the characters different from that presented before beginning to turn it, and reference to which, if recorded, will show, by any change therefrom in the series displayed, that the lock has been tampered with.

Of course the number of the endless bands of dilferential lengths may be greater or less than the four represented, and, instead of being formed of links, they may be of any'continuous suitably flexible material with the characters printed or otherwise provided upon them. Such changes, and others, would be readily suggested to those skilled in the art, and are intended to be included as within my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an indicator look, a case having movably supported in it, in series, endless character-bearing flexible bands differentiating in length and connected to be movable simultaneously and adapted to be movable in but one direction, whereby complete turning of one is accompanied by less than complete turning of the other or others, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an indicator look, a case having joun naled in it toward one end a bearing rotatable in one direction and provided toward its opposite end with a series of hearings on dif' ferent planes, and endless character-bearing flexible bands differentiating in length and extending about said bearings, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 4

3. In an indicator look, a case having journaled in it toward one end a longitudinally grooved drum rotatable in one direction and provided toward its opposite end with a series of hearings on different planes, and endless character-bearing bands differentiating in length, formed of hinged links and extending about said hearings to engage at their hingejoints the drum-grooves, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4.. An indicator-lock, comprising, incombination,acaseAhaving an openingk and carrying a pivotal hasp B, a spring-boltp supported in the case to engage the hasp and provided with a dog 19, a grooved drum D journaled in the case and provided with a ratchet 19 a series of bearings supported in the case on differential planes, and a series of character-bearing bands differentiating in length, formed of hinged links and extending about said bearings to engage at their hinge-joints the drum-grooves, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN Z. RORABACK.

In presence of- WM. G. GEGUS, C. C. HANDIBODE. 

